SWaN Hill Top, LLC (SWaN), an affiliate of SWaN & Legend Venture Partners, and Interstate Hotels & Resorts, a global leader in third-party hotel and resort management, have partnered to resurrect the historic Hill Top House Hotel, founded in 1888, into a luxury resort destination in Harpers Ferry, West Virginia, focused on incubating “big ideas.” The hotel, which is being built on the location of the former hotel, is located just over an hour outside of Washington, D.C. by auto or train, atop a hill that overlooks the confluence of the Potomac and Shenandoah Rivers that President Thomas Jefferson said was “worth a trip across the Atlantic.” Art experts cite Harpers Ferry as the most “painted town” in America because of its remarkable scenery, offering some of the most spectacular views on the East Coast.

“Interstate and SWaN Hill Top are working to create a destination that we predict will be the most sought-after locale for thought leaders and discerning travelers alike,” said Karen Schaufeld, CEO of SWaN Hill Top. “The Hill Top House Hotel will offer a grand, historical lodging experience infused with unique, engaging activities. We are dedicated to preserving and honoring the elements that makes Harpers Ferry a destination for historians, naturalists, civil rights activists, artists and many others.”

The resort will provide premium meeting and catering spaces and world-class lodging and dining. A holistic spa and wellness program will feature breathtaking trails through a labyrinth of historic parks. Programming will also include a range of rich academic, cultural and artistic offerings.

“We want the new Hill Top House Hotel to be as vital to the country as the original Hill Top developed by Thomas Lovett, an African American born in Virginia in 1855. Lovett built his hotel because it was the place of John Brown’s courageous stand against the sin of slavery. Luminaries such as Mark Twain, Alexander Graham Bell, W.E.B. Du Bois, Pearl Buck, Carl Sandberg, Bill Clinton and other Presidents came to enjoy the hallowed area and hold meetings of great importance,” Schaufeld shared. “We see this resort as an ideal venue for leaders at the highest levels to gather to debate and design solutions for some of the most vexing challenges of our times, as well as to provide a luxurious and calming retreat that inspires thinkers from all disciplines and cultures to engage in intellectual inquiry and exchange.”

SWaN & Legend tapped Interstate to develop the resort because of the company’s passion for this particular project and deep experience in upscale resort development and management. Interstate’s ability to bring surprise and delight to the hotel experience made them an obvious choice.

“Our talented team and breadth of resources focused on luxury, resort and lifestyle segments provide a creative approach to the next generation of destination resorts and luxury-defining facets of travel and guest experiences,” said Michael J. Deitemeyer, president and CEO of Interstate Hotels & Resorts. “Interstate’s evolution includes providing increased value for multi-faceted projects like Hill Top House Hotel Harpers Ferry, and we are honored to be partnering with world-class leaders in experiential travel on a project that will redefine the category.”